I’m going to start by telling you that I will not specifically recommend that you select a rifle, a shotgun, or a pistol for home defense. Which one you select will be entirely based on your needs and preferences. I will spend a few minutes talking about the pros and cons of each, so you can make a more informed decision should you decide you want a gun for home defense.
We begin with the notion that you have decided a firearm is the proper tool for you to defend yourself and family in the home. The term home defense is a bit of a misnomer. I’m not suggesting you defend your house or possessions with deadly force. I’m advocating you defend yourself and your family from deadly force. So, having decided that you wish to take that step, which weapon will best suit your needs.
The rifle is a formidable defensive weapon. They are accurate, use powerful ammunition when compared to a pistol, can be magazine fed for quick reloading, will allow the attachment of lights and illuminated aiming devices for low light engagements, and they can provide a range of engagement that far exceeds the shotgun and pistol. This last point will be of particular interest for those who live on large properties and might use the rifle for not just two legged predators, but four legged ones as well.
The downside to the rifle is the lack of concealability, and, while inside the house, the rifle might suffer from some maneuverability issues. Additionally, the rifle generally calls for a two-handed use. This means that if you wanted to grab something, or direct a family member with one hand, while engaging or covering a target with another, you will be in an awkward position. While this can be trained through, it is not as practical to expect to shoot a rifle one handed, as it is a pistol. Storing a rifle near the bedside might also prove tricky if you want to place it in a locked container. Here you would need a full sized safe to do this.
The shotgun excels in its’ versatility. You can use buck shot, which will send 9 “bullets” of .33 Caliber (slightly smaller than a 9-millimeter round) downrange with a single pull of the trigger. You can load the shotgun with slugs, which enjoy excellent penetration and are devastating on impact. For concerns about overpenetration, you can load #4 shot or even birdshot. A shotgun can be a great hunting tool in addition to home defense. The shotgun can be configured for a variety of hunting endeavors. The pump action shotgun is very reliable and can be expected to work despite long periods of sitting, with little or no maintenance. While I don’t suggest you disregard your life saving tools in this manner, it is one of the strong points for the shotgun. Shotgun ammunition is readily available in a variety of loads, so even if you run low on your preferred shells, you can find something suitable to tide you over until you replenish your stock.
Because of the way a shotgun load functions, that is multiple rounds in a single discharge, they do not require the same highly focused attention to aiming that a rifle does. As the distance to the target extends, the shotgun will have a larger pattern of impact, thus, some pellets will not make it to the target. For closer ranges, shotgun wounds are devastating.
On the down side, the shotgun is decidedly a two-handed operation. A pump shot gun requires one hand for master grip and trigger work, and the second hand to stabilize, and work the pump. The shotgun also provides significantly more recoil than a small or even medium caliber rifle. For many users this can be an issue. The significant recoil might also deter routine practice, which is critical for perishable skills such as shooting and weapon manipulations. Like the rifle, storing a shotgun in a secured manner also requires a larger safe than a handgun might.
Both the rifle and the shotgun can be visually intimidating. This factor cannot be overlooked as the likelihood of brandishing a rifle, or a shotgun, as a means of defensive use, is more likely than actually having to discharge the weapon. Confronting an intruder with a rifle or shotgun, coupled with a loud warning to the intruder, may very well suffice to send them on their way. This in turn will save you significant legal troubles when compared to shooting the intruder.
Finally, we come to the handgun. People have a misconception that the handgun is a preferred defensive tool because it is what cops carry. Cops carry handguns because the rifle and shotgun are too unwieldly to carry from call to call. The rifle and shotgun are also intimidating and if cops carried them regularly, the general public would find offence. The fact is, that ballistically speaking, the handgun is the least preferred choice for self-defense. They are harder to aim, may have limited capacity compared to the rifle, and do not provide nearly the same down range impact on targets that the rifle and shotgun provide.
Where the handgun does excel is portability and concealability. You can holster a handgun and carry it daily with no one the wiser. A handgun can be secured in a small, locking box, inside a nightstand draw, where visitors to your home will never suspect its’ presence. A hand gun can easily be operated one handed, and we regularly teach such skills using either left or right hand. Modern handguns can be affixed with a light, that you can operate one handed as well, providing good target identification in low light. A handgun will allow you to dial and call 9-1-1 while holding the gun on a suspect or barricading yourself in a safe room, gun in hand.
All the potential choices will have some issues with over penetration. That is, there is the potential that a round will go through the target, through an interior wall, into an unintended target. The low power shotgun rounds, such as birdshot, have the lowest risk of such a calamity, but the risk still exists. This is best mitigated through tactics and projectile choice, rather than weapon selection.
It will be up to the individual user to decide which weapon will best suit their needs. Of course, there is always the possibility of multiple weapons, such as a pistol and shotgun. What ever you decide, make sure you are familiar with the use, and proficient with the tool. Get some training. We have classes that will fit your needs.
See you at the range.
About the writer
Mike Lazarus
CTA Staff Member
